Free Tamed Galley Master by Lizzie Lynn Lee

missing?"
    "Oh, I didn't tell them you just disappeared like a genie. I said you wandered off while we were eating in the beach. They did ask me if you were intoxicated. Well, you were kind of drunk. Do you know how many drunk people went missing in Miami on the weekend? Tons! I kinda get why they didn't let me file a missing persons report."
    "And what did you tell my mother?"
    "The same story everyone believed."
    "What did my mom say?"
    "She's upset, of course. You've never been this irresponsible."
    "Oh, crap." Danielle racked her brain for a believable excuse. "What am I going to say to her? I can't tell the truth."
    "Yeah, like she's going to believe it." Kate took Danielle's hands. "I think you should keep this as a secret. I bet Dane and Collin would want that too."
    Danielle stared at her.
    "Okay. It’s mainly because I don't want people to think I'm crazy."
    "No one would believe it anyway."
    "Good. I think you should call your mom now. She's been worried like hell."
    "What am I going to tell her?"
    "Believable lie? You met this guy and he invited you for an impromptu yacht sailing and yada yada, it was the hottest sex you've ever had in your life, you forgot to call poor me, your best friend, to let me know that you were okay and having the greatest time in your life."
    "You think my mom would believe that? I left without my purse or cell phone. She knew I wouldn't go anywhere without those."
    "Danielle." Kate shook Danielle's shoulders. "The guy was super hot. Super freaking hot. You couldn't think anything else but getting into his pants. Your mom would believe that."
    Danielle laughed. "Okay. I'll call her."
     
     
    She called her mom and sorted everything out. Her mom gave her an earful before asking when she going to bring the mystery man for a Sunday dinner. She came with another excuse to satisfy her. Long after she hung up, she started thinking what she was going to do next. Dane and Collin had asked her to be their mate. Though she was crazy about them, she wasn’t sure if others approved of that kind of relationship. Especially her mother and the rest of her family. When Brian broke off their engagement, she had been a subject of never-ending gossip so harsh, she wished everyone would just explode.
    Before she went to bed, she asked Kate for advice.
    Usually Kate had plenty of sage wisdom to dispense when it came to relationships, courtesy of Cosmo, and Danielle was surprised that Kate only patted her on the shoulder and said, “Follow your heart.”
    “What? This isn’t like you at all,” Danielle remarked. “Are you okay?”
    “The last time I meddled in your love life you got transported to New York. You can’t imagine how I freaked out. I don’t want to repeat that mistake.”
    Danielle thought for a while. “But because of you, I met Dane and Collin. I guess there’s a silver lining.”
    “Well then, if Dane and Collin make you happy, you shouldn’t be bothered by what others say about you.”
    Danielle decided. “I think I’m going to call them.”
    “What’s stopping you then?”
    Danielle looked away sheepishly. “I wasn’t sure what I should do earlier. I’m also not sure about my feelings. Things went too fast to my comfort.”
    “That’s why I said you should follow your heart. I could sit here and analyze your situation, but it won’t matter if you already know the answer.”
    “Thanks, Dr. Phil. I—”
    Their conversation was interrupted by raps on their door. Followed by a voice that was too familiar to Danielle’s ears.
    It was Brian Ellis, her ex-fiancé.
    “Why is he here?” Danielle looked at Kate.
    “Oh.” Kate grimaced rather guiltily. “I was desperate, okay?”
    Given how that man had made her existence miserable since their infamous breakup, Brian was the last person Danielle wanted to see. She got up from the couch. “I don’t want to see him.”
    “Got it. Go to your room while I do the damage control.”
    Danielle listened to them talking behind